Is the Creality Ender 5 Max Worth It? Review & Guide

The Creality Ender 5 Max is a high-performance 3D printer that offers a large build volume, high print quality, and a fast printing speed. It’s a great option for professionals and hobbyists seeking a reliable and versatile 3D printer. This comprehensive review will cover the specifications, features, pros and cons, price, availability, customer support, build volume, and print quality of the Creality Ender 5 Max 3D printer.

Build Volume and Print Quality

The Creality Ender 5 Max boasts an expansive build volume of 400 x 400 x 400 mm, enabling the printing of large objects or multiple smaller parts simultaneously. This generous capacity sets it apart from many other printers in its class and makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, from creating prototypes and printing functional parts to producing intricate artistic models. Imagine printing a full-size helmet or a complex architectural model in a single print job – the Ender 5 Max makes it possible.

The print quality of the Ender 5 Max is widely regarded as excellent. It consistently delivers smooth surfaces, fine details, and strong layer bonding thanks to its robust construction, dual Z-axis motors, and automatic bed leveling system. The direct drive extruder further enhances print quality by ensuring reliable filament feeding and minimizing extrusion problems, resulting in precise and consistent results.

Specifications and Features

The Creality Ender 5 Max is packed with an impressive array of specifications and features, making it a powerful and versatile tool for 3D printing enthusiasts and professionals. Here’s a detailed look at its key attributes:

The Ender 5 Max is constructed with a robust all-metal frame featuring dual Z-axis motors and linear rods that work together to provide exceptional stability and precision. This design minimizes layer shifts, a common issue in 3D printing that can affect print quality, and ensures consistent layer bonding throughout the printing process, resulting in sturdy and reliable prints. The printer also features a direct drive extruder, which offers more reliable filament feeding compared to Bowden extruders and allows for printing with flexible filaments like TPU95A.

A standout feature is the 36-point automatic bed leveling system, which ensures a perfectly even first layer and eliminates the need for time-consuming manual adjustments. This automated system contributes significantly to the printer’s ability to produce high-quality prints with smooth surfaces and fine details.

The Creality Ender 5 Max is equipped with a 4.3″ color touch screen for easy operation and monitoring of the printing process. It also offers Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling convenient file transfer and remote control through the Creality Cloud app.

Reviews from Reputable Sources

Several reputable sources have reviewed the Creality Ender 5 Max, providing valuable insights into its performance and capabilities. Here’s a summary of their findings:

Positive Reviews:

• PCMag: Highlighted the Ender 5 Max’s high-quality prints, affordability, large build area, and compatibility with various filaments, praising its robust build quality.
• ALL3DP: I found the Ender 5 Max easy to assemble and capable of delivering high-quality prints, appreciating the magnetic bed for easy print removal and the printer’s hackability and upgradability.
• 3DTECHVALLEY: Described the Ender 5 Max as a reliable and durable printer with a user-friendly assembly process, emphasizing the clear markings on wires and the overall ease of setup.
• Teaching Tech: Noted the consistent, high-quality prints and the large build volume of the Ender 5 Max, praising the clear and comprehensive manual.

Critical Reviews:

• ALL3DP: Pointed out potential drawbacks, such as the flimsy magnetic bed, tricky filament loading, and the lack of certain functions in the printer menu.
• 3D Printer Bee: Expressed concerns about the print bed quality, noting that it may require adjustments to achieve optimal results and that the bed leveling is not automatic.
• Top3DShop: Suggested that the Ender 5 Max might not be suitable for beginners due to the complexity of bed leveling and the numerous wires.

These reviews provide a balanced perspective on the Ender 5 Max, highlighting its strengths while acknowledging some areas for potential improvement.

Recommended Upgrades

The Creality Ender 5 Max, like many 3D printers, can be further enhanced with various upgrades. Here are some recommended upgrades based on expert reviews and user feedback:

• Ceramic Coated Glass Bed: Replacing the original flexible build surface with a ceramic coated glass bed can improve print adhesion and provide a more stable and level printing surface. This upgrade can be particularly beneficial for printing with materials that require higher bed temperatures, such as ABS.
• Dual Drive Extruder: Upgrading to a dual drive extruder can enhance filament feeding consistency and allow for faster printing speeds. This can be especially useful for printing with flexible filaments or for demanding applications that require high precision⁷.
• Silent Control Board: Replacing the stock control board with a silent control board can significantly reduce the noise generated by the printer during operation. This can improve the overall user experience, especially for those who use their printer in a home or office environment.

These upgrades can address some of the limitations of the Ender 5 Max and further enhance its performance and capabilities.

Pros and Cons

Based on the available information and user feedback, here’s a comprehensive overview of the pros and cons of the Creality Ender 5 Max:

Pros:

• Large build volume: The 400 mm cubed build volume allows for printing large objects or multiple smaller parts simultaneously.
• High print quality: The printer consistently produces high-quality prints with smooth surfaces and fine details.
• Fast printing speed: With a maximum printing speed of 700 mm/s, the Ender 5 Max can complete prints quickly.
• Dual Z-axis motors: The dual Z-axis design ensures stability and precision, minimizing layer shifts and improving print quality, especially for large prints.
• Reliable extruder: The direct drive extruder provides consistent filament feeding and reduces downtime, allowing for the use of flexible filaments and improving overall print quality.
• Automatic bed leveling: The 36-point automatic bed leveling system simplifies setup and ensures an even first layer, contributing to ease of use and high-quality prints.
• Wide range of operating temperatures: The printer can operate in temperatures ranging from 5-40 ℃, ensuring stable performance in various environments.
• User-friendly interface: The 4.3″ color touch screen and intuitive menu make the printer easy to operate.
• Wi-Fi connectivity: Wi-Fi connectivity allows for convenient file transfer and remote control through the Creality Cloud app.
• Affordable price: The Creality Ender 5 Max offers excellent value for its price, considering its features and performance.
• Easy to upgrade: The box-style frame design makes it easy to mount and install upgrades, allowing users to customize and enhance their printer.

Cons:

• Large size: The printer has a large footprint, requiring significant space on your workbench.
• Potential bed warping: Some users have reported issues with bed warping, especially at higher temperatures. Using a glass build plate can help mitigate this issue.
• Noise: The printer can be noisy during operation, particularly with the older control board. Upgrading to a silent control board can reduce noise levels.
• Limited customer support: While Creality offers customer support, some users have reported difficulties in getting timely assistance.
• Potential wire rubbing: The Bowden tube and wires may rub against the frame, potentially causing wear and tear.
• Wire management: The printer lacks dedicated wire management features, which may result in a less organized setup.

Price and Availability

The Creality Ender 5 Max is available for purchase on the official Creality website and through various online retailers, such as Amazon and 3D Print Lab. The price may vary depending on the retailer, current promotions, and your location. It’s always advisable to check the official Creality website and compare prices from different retailers to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

Customer Support

Creality offers customer support through various channels, including email (cs@creality.com), phone (+86 755 3396 5666 or +1 1833 5135 012), and online chat. However, user experiences with Creality’s customer support have been mixed, with some encountering delays or difficulties in getting their issues resolved. Before making a purchase, it’s recommended to check online forums and reviews for insights into Creality’s customer support and to consider the potential challenges you might face.

Conclusion,

The Creality Ender 5 Max is a high-performance 3D printer that offers a compelling combination of features, performance, and value. Its large build volume, high print quality, and fast printing speed make it a versatile option for a wide range of users and applications. While there are some potential drawbacks, such as its large size and potential bed-warping issues, the Ender 5 Max remains a strong contender in the mid-range 3D printer market.

The Ender 5 Max is particularly well-suited for users who require a large build volume for printing large objects or multiple parts simultaneously. Its high print quality makes it suitable for demanding applications that require fine details and smooth surfaces. The printer’s ease of use, thanks to features like automatic bed leveling and a user-friendly interface, makes it accessible to both beginners and experienced users.

While the Ender 5 Max excels in many areas, it’s important to consider its limitations. Its large size may be a constraint for users with limited workspace, and the potential for bed warping at higher temperatures is something to be aware of. However, these issues can be mitigated with upgrades and careful use.

Overall, the Creality Ender 5 Max is a powerful and versatile 3D printer that offers excellent value for its price. If you’re looking for a reliable and capable 3D printer with a large build volume and high print quality, the Ender 5 Max is definitely worth considering.